October 1, 2018 (Allentown, PA) — The ASD Foundation has received a $4,000 grant from the PPL Foundation. These funds will be used to support and expand the ASDF Volunteer Reading Program, started last year with the goal of improving literacy skills of Allentown’s highly diverse student population. This grant is part of PPL’s Cover to Cover initiative to improve child literacy.
“This grant from the PPL Foundation will support this new program that has had a positive effect on students we were able to reach,” said Susan L. Williams, executive director of ASD Foundation.
“Funds will contribute to training programs, since our goal this year is to attract and retain 100 volunteers.” This program seeks to help students achieve reading on grade level, by Grade 3, at which point they should not only be learning to read, but also begin to actively ‘read to learn.’
The $4,000 grant will directly benefit the literacy program, which engaged 1,600 kindergarten students in the 2017-2018 school year and involved 71 volunteers who came to read weekly to kindergartners in 14 elementary schools. Results from a follow-up volunteer reader evaluation survey revealed highly positive experiences noted by both the volunteers and the teachers who worked with them in their classrooms.
“PPL is committed to making a meaningful difference in the communities where our customers and employees live and work,” said Carol Obando-Derstine, PPL Electric Utilities’ regional affairs director. “Partnering with local organizations that enhance education for our community’s children today will help them succeed tomorrow.”
For the 2018-2019 school year, Allentown School District has already enrolled 1,250 kindergartners in eleven elementary schools, plus the Elementary Newcomer Academy.
About the Allentown School District Foundation
Pursuing a vision of developing enriched education for Allentown School District students, the ASD Foundation has a mission to encourage, promote, and support innovative educational experiences for students in the Allentown School District. Since its founding in 2009, the Foundation has raised almost $3 million for supplemental programming in ASD schools. In the 2017-2018 school year, almost 9,000 students participated in ASD Foundation supported educational experiences. If you would like to learn more, or if you would like to become a reading volunteer, please contact the foundation at 484-765-4093 or williamssu@allentownsd.org. The mailing address is P.O. Box 328, 31 South Penn Street, Allentown, PA 18105, and the website is www.allentownsd.org/asdf.
About the PPL Foundation
Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation supports organizations that are doing innovative and groundbreaking work to create vital, sustainable communities and empowering each citizen to fulfill their potential. The PPL Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.pplcares.com.
Information provided to TVL by:
Office of Communications
Allentown School District
www.allentownsd.org/
